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About this project

The Idea

You've most likely heard about, met or even told tales of people who've
become modern folklore by acting on what the rest of us would leave as
recurring daydreams or coffee shop musings. They follow through with thoughts about a project or a job or a journey or a belief, recognizing the
risks and shaping a curious and unique life around these ideas.
Sometimes for a little while. Sometimes for decades. Sometimes over and
over.

This sense of re-evaluating and challenging what we define
as a successful, meaningful life is an increasingly noticeable trend in
our country. The way we feel about our government, how we're becoming
ever more connected, our sense of wanting to improve and care for the
environment, the world, and the people we share it with, are changing
dramatically.

On April 13th I'm taking leave from all things
routine to load up the car with cameras and paper and pens and camping gear,
and driving across the country to visit five remarkable individuals
who've challenged what was in front of them and made drastic changes to
create a life that felt truer to their values. I'll be asking them how
they came to these realizations, what it felt like when they decided to
abandon their traditional paths and what they risked and gained by
choosing a future that was full of uncertainty and adventure. I'll also
be asking them about their approach to life, their thoughts on aging and
death and how they see the American dream evolving amongst their
friends and communities.

Throughout this trip I'll be sharing
coffee, camping out with and staying on the couches of friends and
friends of friends, asking them a few of these big questions as well,
and getting a sense of how people from all different ages and walks of
life feel about these issues.

When I return to Austin in late
May I'll be compiling these stories into a book of interviews and
photography, maps and illustrations. You can sign up to receive
copy of the book by donating to this campaign.

All of this came to be
mainly because I ask myself these questions constantly and I'm
fascinated by those who can live in the present, who can take smiling
leaps into an abyss, and who are motivated enough to create momentum
behind their imagination. And because, really, what's more important
than being able to look back and say, yep, that was a terrifying,
exhilarating, incredible adventure and I'm so thankful I found the
courage to be brave.

Mardy Chen, Founder of PURE Bikram Yoga Formerly a
finance executive in NYC, Mardy changed her life in 2001 to focus on
what she had come to realize was most valuable to her - her family, her
community, and sharing her love of yoga with others by founding PURE
Bikram Yoga in Austin, TX.

Bert Crenca, Founder of AS220 When Bert was
33, he said goodbye to the life he knew to create something he believed
in. That something ended up being a way of helping artists find their
voice and for the rest of the world to hear them. Not to mention a cultural hub and artist community in the center of Providence, RI.

Philip CroleyAfter spending 10 years shaping Austin's music scene, he decided to walk away from it all and set out in search of
serenity and truth and mountains. He found all those things and a whole lot more…adventure just follows this guy.

Sharon Elsayed, Founder of Bubby's BreadSharon's career had been almost entirely in academia and the non-profit
arenas until she decided she wanted to find a more personal, impactful
way to continue her outreach work. For years she made bread with her
children every Friday night. Sharing the warmth and memories of that
experience with others became a much more personal way of helping.
Beyond that, it became a way for her to provide meaningful work for
herself and a place where adults, youth, and individuals with differing
abilities could work, as well as help others.

Robert Ovetz, Ph.D.Political Science and
Sociology Professor, Writer, Environmentalist, Film Maker, Musician - Zapatistas, music festivals and sea turtles.
There's just too much to say to fit it all in here, please check out his wikipedia
page and get ready to be flabbergasted.

I wanna help

You can! First, please tell your friends about this project. Second, if there are things you'd like me to ask these folks, send your questions over to ToBeBraveBook (at) gmail.

Funding

All of the money raised through this campaign will go towards the
production and shipping of the books – not my cameras, not my gasoline,
not my food or bike rack or anything that has to do with the trip
itself.

What the final book looks like will be determined by this
campaign. The more money raised, the higher the production quality will
be. It could be anything from a saddle stitched booklet to a hard cover.
Regardless, I can promise you that
whatever it ends up being, it's definitely going to be a carefully
crafted, well loved collection of artwork and stories.

What if you raise more than you need?

Anything raised beyond what's necessary for the production costs will be donated to the National Parks Conservation Association. The parks system is where so many of us go to reconnect with ourselves and now, more than ever, they need our help.

What if you don't raise enough?

I'll be going on this journey and documenting it regardless of book funding, so if this doesn't work out, contact me through the website and at the very least I'll be happy to send you a PDF of whatever it becomes.

Rewards

All rewards are listed to the right up there. If there's something you want that isn't listed in your category, just let me know and I'll make as many exceptions as I can. Oh also, these are the TBB vector icons - get em!

Plans after the book

Once the book is completed, I'm hoping to put together a gallery show of photography, illustrations, selected writings and maybe…possibly…a film. But more on those ideas later…

--------------------------

I want to thank all of my incredibly patient friends and family who, over the past three months, have helped me think through this idea, make videos, and introduced me to remarkable people to interview and stay with. This absolutely would not be possible without you, I can't begin tell you what it means to me.

Michael Cronan and Karin Hibma, Christian and Jenn Helms, Sam Martin, and Pamela Zuccker…just wow, I am so grateful for your crazy kind words and support, thank you so much.

Huge thanks to Owen Ashworth of Casiotone for the Painfully Alone for
allowing me to use "Optimist vs The Silent Alarm". Check out his other
super great stuff here and here.

The track in the second video is "Lost Waltz" by The Lost Sounds and I really hope they take a book in exchange for me swiping it. Find all of their screamy good albums here.

Finally, thanks especially to you for listening, you are nice.

FAQ

Have a question?
If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.

Rewards

Pledge $10 or more

Get a To Be Brave wallpaper to spiff up yer computer PLUS, get your name in the Thanks section of the book.

Estimated delivery:Jun 2012

You selected

Pledge $25 or more

6 backers

Get the To Be Brave wallpaper, yer name in the Thanks section, and the To Be Brave vector icon set.

Estimated delivery:Jun 2012

You selected

Pledge $50 or more

6 backers

Get yer name in the Thanks section, a personal postcard from the road and a PDF of the final book.

Estimated delivery:Jun 2012

You selected

Pledge $75 or more

17 backers

Get yer name in the Thanks section, a personal postcard from the road, and most importantly, your own copy of the book!

Estimated delivery:Aug 2012

You selected

Pledge $100 or more

10 backers

Get yer name in the Thanks section, a personal postcard from the road, your very own copy of the book, and your choice (all photography will be posted on flickr) of an 8 x 10 print.

Estimated delivery:Aug 2012

You selected

Pledge $200 or more

3 backers

Get yer name in the Thanks section, a personal postcard from the road, your very own copy of the book, your choice of an 8 x 10 print PLUS a found memento from the journey - mystery gift!

Estimated delivery:Aug 2012

You selected

Pledge $500 or more

0 backers

Get yer name in the Thanks section, TWO copies of the book, your choice of an 8 x 10 print, the mystery gift, PLUS a hand illustrated postcard from the road from me AND access to the To Be Brave interview video library.

Estimated delivery:Aug 2012

You selected

Pledge $1,000 or more

0 backers

Okay crazy person, if you want to donate this much money, heck, I'll come visit you, do a slideshow for you and your friends and tell you all about these stories in person! Oh, and of course, your name in the Thanks section, two copies of the book, an 8x10 print of your choice, the mystery gift and access to ALL of the To Be Brave footage.

Estimated delivery:Aug 2012

Funding period

Mar 8, 2012 - Apr 7, 2012
(30 days)

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